University of Alaska Regents are meeting Thursday and Friday to consider budgets for this year and next, as the institution faces large deficits. One money-saving option up for consideration is merging University of Alaska Southeast programs into either the University of Alaska Fairbanks or Anchorage operations, a proposal that drew heavy protest during a pre-meeting public testimony session Tuesday night.
Alison Brown of Juneau described an effective and efficient university that has local backing. Brown said that could be lost if UAS is run remotely from Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Mary Marks of Juneau described how Southeast tribes and organizations partner with the university on Native language preservation programs. Many others who testified in opposition to merging UAS programs into either UAA or UAF, described how their experiences at Southeast campuses enhanced their lives. UAS English major Erika Bergren said UAS Juneau has helped her advance her writing.
Bergren urged regents to avoid the merge option and find other ways to be efficient. UA president Jim Johnsen debuted the UAS merge option last week, saying it could save as much as 15 million dollars, as the university faces declining state funding, and enrollment, and pandemic related costs, but Anchorage Democratic state representative Andy Josephson said it’s too early to take such drastic action.
Representative Josephson, who chairs a legislative university finance subcommittee, pointed to the possibility of additional state funding for UA in a supplemental budget bill this coming January, and the potential for new state and federal revenue.
Josephson encouraged regents to move slowly on budget cutting options, including the proposed elimination of 50 academic and degree programs.
During their Thursday Friday meeting, regents are slated to review the FY21 budget, and give guidance on the FY 22 spending plan. UA is facing a nearly 25 million dollar shortfall in FY 21, and an estimated $11,000,000 to $36,000,000 deficit the following year